Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild a breast's shape after a mastectomy. It cannot give a woman back her breast - a reconstructed breast does not have natural sensations. However, the surgery offers a result that looks like a breast. Most women who had breast reconstruction are glad they did.
In breast reconstruction, a surgeon forms a breast mound by using an implant or tissues from the belly, back or buttocks. Implants are silicone sacs filled with salt water or silicone gel. The type of reconstruction you get depends on your body type, age and cancer treatment.
Breast reconstruction takes more than one surgery. Extra steps may include:
- Adding a nipple
- Changing the shape or size of the reconstructed breast
- Operating on the opposite breast for a better match
Breast reconstruction can help restore the look and feel of the breast after mastectomy. Done by a plastic surgeon, breast reconstruction can be completed in conjunction with the mastectomy surgery (‘immediate’) or some time after the surgery. Many women now choose to do breast reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy, but exactly when a woman decides to have reconstruction depends on her wishes and the specifics of her situation. Not all women are candidates for reconstruction at the same time as surgery. It is important for a woman to discuss her options with her health care provider. Although a reconstructed breast may never look or feel as natural as the original breast, this area of plastic surgery continues to improve and consequently, so do the cosmetic results. Having a breast reconstructed can help a woman feel less self-conscious about how she looks and restore confidence in her sexuality. Reconstruction can also help her to worry less about her cancer because she will not be constantly reminded of it by her missing breast.
There are two types of reconstruction. One uses artificial implants, such as saline, and one uses skin and tissue from the woman's own body. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. Artificial implants require less extensive surgery than procedures using a woman’s own tissues, but the results can look and feel less natural. There is no one best reconstructive method and women should discuss all options with their health care provider and plastic surgeon. It may be comforting to know that the majority of women are satisfied with the method of breast reconstruction they chose and there are relatively few complications with any of the current techniques.
Most procedures for breast reconstruction involve several steps. Whether performed at the same time as the mastectomy, or at a later date, the initial procedure for breast reconstruction will require a hospital stay. However, follow-up steps in the procedure may be done on an outpatient basis.
